jryoung
Well-known member
Policy experts *cough*BEN*cough* what do you know of the SPORT Act? What details are hiding the devil?
I'm guessing Randy might appreciate the filming section bolded below.
http://www.ourpubliclands.org/blog/hunters-and-anglers-tip-their-hat-senate-legislation
http://www.hagan.senate.gov/files/documents/131106_SPORTAct_DescriptionofBills.pdf
Sportsmen's and Public Outdoor Recreation Traditions Act or SPORT Act
*Denotes a bipartisan bill.
TITLE I: REGULATORY REFORMS
• Sportsmen Trust Funds
Exempts the Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund and the Sport Fish Restoration &
Boating Safety Trust Funds (“ Sportsmen Trust Funds”) from sequestration.
The Office of Management and Budget determined that funding released to the states
from the Trust Funds are subject to sequestration. In FY2013, $50 million was
sequestered from the Sportsmen Trust Funds. That will increase to $82 million in
FY2014. Without an agreement to modify the terms, additional cuts will continue for
the life of the sequester.
Money for the trust funds derive from federal excise taxes -- not from federal income
taxes -- and are critically important to states across the country. State agencies use
Trust Fund apportionments to restore and manage fisheries and wildlife habitats, open
and maintain recreational access; and deliver hunter and boating safety education.
• Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Protection Act (S.1505)*
Lead Sponsor: Senator Thune
Excludes ammo and fishing tackle from the Toxic Substances Control Act, leaving
decisions about tackle to State Fish and Game Agencies and the Fish and Wildlife
Service, who currently regulate ammo and tackle. The EPA has denied petitions to
regulate tackle and ammo under TSCA in 1994 and again in 2011.
• Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2013 (S.738)*
Lead Sponsor: Senator Wicker
Grants the Secretary of the Interior permanent authority to authorize any state to issue
electronic duck stamps. These “e-stamps” are valid for 45 days.
• Polar Bear Conservation and Fairness Act (S.847)
Lead Sponsor: Senator Crapo
Permits the Secretary of the Interior to authorize permits for re-importation of legally
harvested Polar Bears from approved populations in Canada before the 2008 ban.
• Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act (S.1212)*
Lead Sponsor: Senator Udall (CO)
Enables states to allocate a greater proportion of federal funding to create and
maintain shooting ranges
Farmer and Hunter Protection Act*
Lead Sponsor: Senator Pryor
Authorizes USDA extension offices to determine normal agricultural practices rather
than the Fish and Wildlife Service.
In some instances, FWS has interpreted the Migratory Bird Act to treat hunting of
migrating birds on rolled fields as re-growth as bating. Baiting migratory birds with
grain is illegal and can result in fines up to $10,000 and the halting of hunting on the
grounds considered baited. Normal agricultural practices are not considered baiting.
This bill aims to set clear criteria on what constitutes “normal agricultural practices”
by having the FWS refer to local USDA extension offices for the determination.
• Permits for Film Crews of Five People or Less.
Directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to require annual
permits and assess annual fees for commercial filming activities on Federal land for
film crews of five persons or fewer.
The current rules for filming and photographing on federal lands and waterways are
burdensome on individual journalists and small film crews wishing to participate in
these activities on federal lands. This section prohibits additional fees from being
assessed on individuals or small film crews that possess permits.
TITLE II: IMPROVING ACCESS
• Making Public Lands Public:
Requires that 1.5% of annual LWCF funding be made available to secure, through
rights-of-way, or the acquisition of lands, or interests from willing sellers, recreational
public access to existing federal public lands that have significantly restricted access
to hunting, fishing, and other recreational purposes.
• Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act Reauthorization (S.368)*
Lead Sponsor: Senator Heinrich
Permanently reauthorizes FLTFA. FLTFA’s authorization expired July 2011.
FLTFA enables the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to sell land to private
owners, counties, companies and others for ranching, community development and
other projects. This “Land for Land” approach creates jobs and generates funding for
BLM, USFS, NPS and USFWS to acquire critical in-holdings from willing sellers.
Prior to July 2011, BLM completed hundreds of sales, generating over $117 million
and funding 39 conservation projects. At least 80% of funds from the sale or
exchange of public land must be used to acquire high priority lands. Revenue would be generated for funding the program through the sale of lands in both current and
future BLM Resource Management Plans (RMP) rather than only those in place on
the date of re-authorization.
The text is from the bill reported by the Senate Energy Committee earlier this year.
• Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage Opportunities Act (S.170)*
Lead Sponsor: Senator Murkowski
Directs Federal land management agencies to facilitate hunting and fishing on Federal
lands; and to ensure scientific management of wildlife and their habitat.
Requires the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service to keep their lands
open to hunting, recreational fishing, and shooting, and facilitate the use of and access
to federal public lands and waters for these activities.
• Studies required by the Hunt Unrestricted on National Treasures Act (S.1554)
Lead Sponsor: Senator Heinrich
Directs federal agencies to inventory all public lands larger than 640 acres where
hunting and fishing are legal but inaccessible, then work with neighboring landowners
to purchase parcels that facilitate access from willing sellers.
TITLE III: HABITAT CONSERVATION
• North American Wetlands Conservation Act Reauthorization (S.741)*
Lead Sponsor: Senator Vitter
Reauthorizes NAWCA through fiscal year 2017. Authorization for NAWCA expired
on October 1, 2012.
NAWCA provides matching grants to organizations, state and local governments, and
private landowners for the acquisition, restoration, and enhancement of wetlands
critical to the habitat of migratory birds. Over the last 20 years, this program has
funded over 1,600 projects that conserved more than 20 million acres of wetlands
across North America. NAWCA is also cost-effective, with every dollar of federal
funding traditionally generating three dollars in non-federal money.
• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Reauthorization (S.51)*
Lead Sponsor: Senator Boxer
Reauthorizes the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), a non-profit that
preserves and restores native wildlife species and habitats. NFWF directs public
conservation dollars to pressing environmental needs and matches those investments
with private funds. Since its establishment, NFWF has awarded over 11,600 grants to more than 4,000 organizations in the United States, investing a total of $2 billion for
conservation.
• Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Reauth. (S.231)*
Lead Sponsor: Senator Portman
Amends the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act of 2010
to require such stamps to be available for an additional four years; and provide five
versions depicting African or Asian elephants, a rhinoceros, a tiger, a marine turtle or
a great ape.
• Partners for Fish and Wildlife:
Reauthorizes the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program through 2018. Authorization
for the program expired in 2011.
This program works in a non-regulatory, cooperative fashion to help private
landowners with habitat restoration on their property. This cost-share program focuses
on improving wetland, riparian, in-stream, fish passage, sage-steppe, grassland and
aquatic habitats that provide benefits to migratory birds, threatened or endangered
species, and other sensitive and declining species.
I'm guessing Randy might appreciate the filming section bolded below.
http://www.ourpubliclands.org/blog/hunters-and-anglers-tip-their-hat-senate-legislation
http://www.hagan.senate.gov/files/documents/131106_SPORTAct_DescriptionofBills.pdf
Sportsmen's and Public Outdoor Recreation Traditions Act or SPORT Act
*Denotes a bipartisan bill.
TITLE I: REGULATORY REFORMS
• Sportsmen Trust Funds
Exempts the Wildlife Restoration Trust Fund and the Sport Fish Restoration &
Boating Safety Trust Funds (“ Sportsmen Trust Funds”) from sequestration.
The Office of Management and Budget determined that funding released to the states
from the Trust Funds are subject to sequestration. In FY2013, $50 million was
sequestered from the Sportsmen Trust Funds. That will increase to $82 million in
FY2014. Without an agreement to modify the terms, additional cuts will continue for
the life of the sequester.
Money for the trust funds derive from federal excise taxes -- not from federal income
taxes -- and are critically important to states across the country. State agencies use
Trust Fund apportionments to restore and manage fisheries and wildlife habitats, open
and maintain recreational access; and deliver hunter and boating safety education.
• Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Protection Act (S.1505)*
Lead Sponsor: Senator Thune
Excludes ammo and fishing tackle from the Toxic Substances Control Act, leaving
decisions about tackle to State Fish and Game Agencies and the Fish and Wildlife
Service, who currently regulate ammo and tackle. The EPA has denied petitions to
regulate tackle and ammo under TSCA in 1994 and again in 2011.
• Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2013 (S.738)*
Lead Sponsor: Senator Wicker
Grants the Secretary of the Interior permanent authority to authorize any state to issue
electronic duck stamps. These “e-stamps” are valid for 45 days.
• Polar Bear Conservation and Fairness Act (S.847)
Lead Sponsor: Senator Crapo
Permits the Secretary of the Interior to authorize permits for re-importation of legally
harvested Polar Bears from approved populations in Canada before the 2008 ban.
• Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act (S.1212)*
Lead Sponsor: Senator Udall (CO)
Enables states to allocate a greater proportion of federal funding to create and
maintain shooting ranges
Farmer and Hunter Protection Act*
Lead Sponsor: Senator Pryor
Authorizes USDA extension offices to determine normal agricultural practices rather
than the Fish and Wildlife Service.
In some instances, FWS has interpreted the Migratory Bird Act to treat hunting of
migrating birds on rolled fields as re-growth as bating. Baiting migratory birds with
grain is illegal and can result in fines up to $10,000 and the halting of hunting on the
grounds considered baited. Normal agricultural practices are not considered baiting.
This bill aims to set clear criteria on what constitutes “normal agricultural practices”
by having the FWS refer to local USDA extension offices for the determination.
• Permits for Film Crews of Five People or Less.
Directs the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture to require annual
permits and assess annual fees for commercial filming activities on Federal land for
film crews of five persons or fewer.
The current rules for filming and photographing on federal lands and waterways are
burdensome on individual journalists and small film crews wishing to participate in
these activities on federal lands. This section prohibits additional fees from being
assessed on individuals or small film crews that possess permits.
TITLE II: IMPROVING ACCESS
• Making Public Lands Public:
Requires that 1.5% of annual LWCF funding be made available to secure, through
rights-of-way, or the acquisition of lands, or interests from willing sellers, recreational
public access to existing federal public lands that have significantly restricted access
to hunting, fishing, and other recreational purposes.
• Federal Land Transaction Facilitation Act Reauthorization (S.368)*
Lead Sponsor: Senator Heinrich
Permanently reauthorizes FLTFA. FLTFA’s authorization expired July 2011.
FLTFA enables the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), to sell land to private
owners, counties, companies and others for ranching, community development and
other projects. This “Land for Land” approach creates jobs and generates funding for
BLM, USFS, NPS and USFWS to acquire critical in-holdings from willing sellers.
Prior to July 2011, BLM completed hundreds of sales, generating over $117 million
and funding 39 conservation projects. At least 80% of funds from the sale or
exchange of public land must be used to acquire high priority lands. Revenue would be generated for funding the program through the sale of lands in both current and
future BLM Resource Management Plans (RMP) rather than only those in place on
the date of re-authorization.
The text is from the bill reported by the Senate Energy Committee earlier this year.
• Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage Opportunities Act (S.170)*
Lead Sponsor: Senator Murkowski
Directs Federal land management agencies to facilitate hunting and fishing on Federal
lands; and to ensure scientific management of wildlife and their habitat.
Requires the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest Service to keep their lands
open to hunting, recreational fishing, and shooting, and facilitate the use of and access
to federal public lands and waters for these activities.
• Studies required by the Hunt Unrestricted on National Treasures Act (S.1554)
Lead Sponsor: Senator Heinrich
Directs federal agencies to inventory all public lands larger than 640 acres where
hunting and fishing are legal but inaccessible, then work with neighboring landowners
to purchase parcels that facilitate access from willing sellers.
TITLE III: HABITAT CONSERVATION
• North American Wetlands Conservation Act Reauthorization (S.741)*
Lead Sponsor: Senator Vitter
Reauthorizes NAWCA through fiscal year 2017. Authorization for NAWCA expired
on October 1, 2012.
NAWCA provides matching grants to organizations, state and local governments, and
private landowners for the acquisition, restoration, and enhancement of wetlands
critical to the habitat of migratory birds. Over the last 20 years, this program has
funded over 1,600 projects that conserved more than 20 million acres of wetlands
across North America. NAWCA is also cost-effective, with every dollar of federal
funding traditionally generating three dollars in non-federal money.
• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Reauthorization (S.51)*
Lead Sponsor: Senator Boxer
Reauthorizes the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), a non-profit that
preserves and restores native wildlife species and habitats. NFWF directs public
conservation dollars to pressing environmental needs and matches those investments
with private funds. Since its establishment, NFWF has awarded over 11,600 grants to more than 4,000 organizations in the United States, investing a total of $2 billion for
conservation.
• Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Reauth. (S.231)*
Lead Sponsor: Senator Portman
Amends the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act of 2010
to require such stamps to be available for an additional four years; and provide five
versions depicting African or Asian elephants, a rhinoceros, a tiger, a marine turtle or
a great ape.
• Partners for Fish and Wildlife:
Reauthorizes the Partners for Fish and Wildlife program through 2018. Authorization
for the program expired in 2011.
This program works in a non-regulatory, cooperative fashion to help private
landowners with habitat restoration on their property. This cost-share program focuses
on improving wetland, riparian, in-stream, fish passage, sage-steppe, grassland and
aquatic habitats that provide benefits to migratory birds, threatened or endangered
species, and other sensitive and declining species.
